Windows of The Heart

Chapter Thirty-Five CHANGES Recommended background song: I cry by Westlife.

Later that night, back at his place, Hyun-Ki felt emotionally heavy. He cannot seem to overcome his mixed feelings of anger and dismay from what transpired between him and Rielle. He cannot accept Rielle's rejection of his marriage proposal. He loved Rielle very much; she became the center of his life, and rejecting him was like suicide. He stood there looking at the glass window when he saw the lavender in a vase he sent to Rielle this morning. Teary-eyed, he picked up the flower and threw it over the glass window, but it only fell to the floor. The vase broke into pieces because of the tempered glass window, and it only blocked the vase with the lavender to be thrown out. He was unsatisfied with the thrown-out vase, so he spread his arms on the table and brushed off all the dishes, breaking them into pieces. Getting tired of breaking, he was crying his head off, pulled himself to the floor, leaned against the wall, banging the back of his head, and continued crying and calling Rielle's name.

"Why, Rielle, why don't you want to marry me? What is wrong? Are you just using me? Is my love not enough for you?" He stood up and thought of the wine he kept in the cupboard, took it and drank, and went straight to the bedroom until he fell asleep.

Junie, the driver, came knocking on Hyun-Ki's door the following day. When no answer came, he tried again calling his boss over the phone but still no response. So, he decided to mightily bang on the door until Hyun-Ki was startled by the heavy noise and walked groggily, rubbing his eyes, opened the door, and was stunned to see Junie in front of him.

"Why bang the door, Junie? You are like police looking for a suspect in my place, huh?" remarked Hyun-Ki. So, Junie answered, "Sir, it was 10 am, and since you're not coming down, which you usually do, I decided to knock on your door because you are not answering my call. I got worried, too, thinking something bad could have happened. That's why I kept banging on your door, Sir." Hyun-Ki was silent, so Junie continued, "I already fetched Miss Rielle this morning late because you told me to wait for your call, and since you're not answering my calls, I first fetched Miss Rielle, and she told me to go directly to the Office then get back to you, Sir."

"Okay, okay, well taken. Could you wait for me in the basement? I'll take a short shower." He replied.

An hour later, Hyun-Ki entered his Office with a severed face and a heavy countenance. He was not in the mood, so he sat down and leaned on the sofa. Rielle came in to see him feeling worried because he did not even take a glimpse of her at her desk which he usually does. Hyun-Ki was startled when he felt hands on his head by his ears. He turned his head and, seeing Rielle, stood up, shrugged his shoulders, loosened his tie, and spoke to Rielle with wrinkled brows and a frowny face.

"Why are you here? Have I called you?" Somehow displeased with his remark, Rielle commented, "I was worried ---" Hyun-Ki cut her off with his hand, signaling her to leave. Feeling insulted by his unbecoming attitude, Rielle left straight to the door without hesitation.

In a short while, Hyun-Ki called for the two secretaries giving them changes on their duties. "Any of you two should report to me every morning about my schedules and appointments for the day. If ever I need some documents or files, any of you have to hand me over what I asked. Only the two of you can enter my room, and if anything Miss Gabrielle wishes me informed, she should relay it to any of you to tell me. Is that understood? And whenever I have guests in my Office, you will be serving them, not Miss Gabrielle, am I understood?" Stressed Hyun-Ki. The two secretaries nodded and asked about his schedule and appointments for the day. The two secretaries returned to their posts, and Alexis returned with the report. Afterward, Alexis asked to call Rielle for some discussions about the changes in duties he had made.

Alexis came to Rielle with a wary expression and told her that Mr. Hyun-Ki wished to speak with her. Rielle gladly stood up and walked straight to Hyun-Ki's Office.

"You wish to see me, Hyun?" Hyun-Ki faced her coldly and told her to sit on the sofa. Hyun-Ki remained seated by his desk and told her about some changes he made regarding their duties and functions in his Office.

"This is about your work, Miss Gabrielle." He sounded formal and cold as he talked to Rielle. "From now on, you must address me as Mr. Han, not Sir, not my name, but Mr. Han, understood?" Rielle felt slighted but never showed any reaction and continued to listen this time; she removed her eyes from Hyun-Ki and looked down.

"And also, beginning at this hour, you have to assign any of your two secretaries to give me the schedule and appointments I have to make, and if there are papers to be signed or documents for my approval after your review, have any of your staff bring the documents or files that I need. And if there are emails that you need to proofread or edit, I'll pass them on to your inbox, so there's no need to see me personally or be near me. is that clear, Miss Gabriel Calma? If you have more questions, ask me now while you are still seated; if none, you may leave."

"Is this how you should treat me now, Han Hyun-Ki? So let us forget everything about ourselves, is that it?" Rielle was about to cry, but she held back, seeing Hyun-Ki with cold eyes staring at her. "Okay, if that's what you want, so be it!" Rielle left head high, not wanting to back down. And telling herself, 'Goodbye to Love."

Louie received a call from a client asking for an appointment, and she answered to wait as she would consult this first. She went to Rielle, but she told Louie that it would be Mr. Han who could accept that appointment, so she knocked and asked Mr. Han for his confirmation. Mr. Han told Louie to tell Rielle that she is going with Mr. Han tomorrow for a lunch meeting with a client in corporate attire.

Rielle was worried because she had no corporate attire yet in her wardrobe. She mustered her courage to see Mr. Han even if she was not welcome in his Office.

"Mr. Han, since it is my function to be with you during your outside meetings, may I ask your permission to leave before the Office closes so I can buy corporate outfits to wear as a requirement for my daily attire?" Mr. Han did not look at Gabrielle and instead uttered a short word, "Go." Rielle could feel Hyun-Ki's cold heart and withheld anger for her, and her heart crumpled into pieces with his hands.

Rielle was getting in the elevator only to meet Hwan Chul there. Hwan Chul smiled and spoke: "You're leaving early today, Gabrielle?" entreated Hwan Chul.

"Yes," she replied. "Had Wilson called you already?" Hwan Chul asked. Rielle shook her head as 'No.'

"Nancy gave birth this morning." It was his news. Rielle lit up. "She had? I received no call, but where was she confined?" she happily inquired.

"I'm on my way to visit Nancy. You can come with me if you wish." Hwan offered. "I'm sorry, but I have an important errand today. Perhaps I can follow suit if I finish early, but if not, I will visit tomorrow. Will you let Nancy know of my intention?" Rielle requested. "Yes, of course." Hwan Chul replied.

When they left the elevator, Hwan Chul offered a ride to Rielle.

"We will drop you at the nearest place you are going, Rielle." Offered Hwan Chul.

Wishing to avoid Hwan Chul, she declined. "I'll be alright," Rielle answered. So, both went their separate ways.

Rielle went store to store in a mall, looking for corporate outfits that fit her taste. Then she saw some corporate clothes that fascinated her taste, and the blouses, skirts, and pants could be paired with these coats. And after having done buying, she passed by a hair salon and was thinking if can she have her hair trimmed or cut short, and while in the middle of deciding, a receptionist came to her and offered her their services. The hair cutter suggested she dye her hair and then have it trimmed. Sitting in the chair, she thought of cutting her hair very short. So the hair cutter told her a Pixie cut with bangs, and her hair color is ash-blonde. When done, the hair salon crew fell in admiration of her beautiful face because she looked more sophisticated and attractive. She became happier and more confident in herself.

Everybody at home was surprised and amused by Rielle's new positive outlook and beautiful features. She was poised, gorgeous, confident, assertive, and a determined woman.

"I promise every man will adore you, my lovely daughter, and you'll be under every man's radar." Rielle wrapped her arms around her mom's neck, so wrapped in her mom's excellent descriptions of her. Then she thought of Hyun-Ki, 'will he approve my new look?' and she couldn't wait for tomorrow's outcome.

The following day, Rielle left home early and was already in a cab caught in heavy traffic. "Hey, Mister, can't you find any shortcuts? My life depends on my job, and I'm out if I come in late!" Rielle nervously implored.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but this is rush hour. Even if I make turns and shortcuts, the more it will take us longer because everyone is making shortcuts, sorry, ma'am." Explained the cab driver. "Oh my God, I'm done! Oh my God!" Rielle was exclaiming in prayer.

In the meantime, Junie asked Mr. Han Hyun-Ki if he would fetch Miss Rielle first or will they go there together to get her. Mr. Han Hyun-Ki waved his hand, showed a stop sign to Junie, and replied, "starting today, you'll stop picking her up, that's all."

Mr. Han Hyun-Ki arrived early, but Rielle was still on the road. Louie came to his Office, greeted him, and told him his schedule of activities, including the appointment he had to make. Mr. Han Hyun-Ki asked if Rielle was wearing corporate attire, and Louie could not answer at once. "Sir, Miss Gabrielle called up just a minute ago telling me she might come in late because of traffic."

"Hmph, what is this, daring me to change my mind? No way, that's her problem!" murmuring in a deep breath.

"Are you telling me something, sir?" asked Louie.

"That's all for now, Louie; go back to your post." Demanded Han Hyun-Ki. And as Louie opened the access door, Rielle rushed in, gasping for breath, and Han Hyun-Ki caught a glimpse of her. To everybody's surprise, Rielle looked so beautiful in her new look. Hyun-Ki could not take off his glance, her brand new hair cut and hair color, especially when she took off her coat to bring out a thin pink blouse and saw her wearing a short skirt, but flinched from the door, so he won't be seen looking at her.

"Miss Rielle, you're not only so beautiful, but you look so different today. Something has changed in you; could it be your outfit or your innovation yourself?

"Thank you; I felt that I need a change in myself. That's all." Rielle said, hoping for a new day. At around 11 am, Louie reminded Rielle of Mr. Han's lunch meeting with a client, then walked into Mr. Han's Office, telling him of the time.

"Tell Rielle to go now in the basement, and Junie is waiting for us to leave." Rielle went to the back of a curtain and changed her skirt to purple pants matching her purple coat. The two secretaries were awed in adoration for her beautiful looks and new outfit, and they wished her good luck because she was riding with their CEO.

Rielle was walking toward the elevator when Han Hyun-Ki came in also. Rielle stopped, hesitated for a second, and went inside with her CEO. She stood at a distance and gazed at the elevator door while Han Hyun-Ki leaned by the elevator wall looking at her as if sizing up on her.

"I see you've made changes to your looks. Does it mean you're ready to mingle with another single guy who may get interested in you? You're so fast to recover, huh?!" Rielle glared at him. "Say anything you want; I care less." That was all Rielle said, and there was silence. She's nervous about how he stood there quietly, staring at her. She felt like they were both strangers, and it was hurting her. She breathed a sigh of relief when the elevator door opened for the basement, and Han Hyun-Ki walked out without a word.

Junie opened the car door supposed to be for Rielle, but Han Hyun-Ki entered first. Rielle was confused. Will she sit in the front seat, and indeed Mr. Han wouldn't like her to sit by his side, so she chose to sit in front?

"What are you doing, Miss Calma? Are you now acting like my bodyguard?" Mr. Han Hyun-Ki exclaimed with annoyance. "Junie, open the other side of the door! Both of you are annoying!" Mr. Han gave a scornful remark.

His insult hurt Rielle that she made a pursed lip. Junie opened the door for her, making a frown on Mr. Han. Both remained quiet the entire time of their trip. When they reached the designated place for a lunch meeting, Han Hyun-Ki first alighted, so Junie opened the car door for Rielle.

Both entered the lobby, and a receptionist led them to a table where the client, Mr. Chao Lin, was waiting. Mr. Han Hyun-Ki pulled his chair, so Mr. Chao Lin pulled a chair for Rielle while staring at her beauty. "I am Chao Lin, Assistant to the VP for Operations," extending his hand to Rielle. "I never expected to see a beautiful secretary for Mr. Han Hyun-Ki," somehow intimidated, said, "she is my Executive Assistant. Shall we begin?"

"We have to wait for the VP of Operations herself, Mr. Han Hyun-Ki. She'll be here soon, and oh, there she is now." She appeared slim, sexy, and beautiful in a flowing red V-neckline dress with a summer hat and Mr. Han Hyun-Ki seemed so captivated by the VP's looks that he stood up quickly and pulled the chair for her. Rielle frowned at Han Hyun-Ki's courtesy for the woman because he never bothered to pull a chair for her. Han Hyun-Ki focused on the woman, and he introduced himself.

"I am Han Hyun-Ki, CEO of Kor H&H Industries, and it's a pleasure to meet you." He never batted an eye as he stared at the woman, and Mr. Chao Lin introduced her "She is Miss Julienne Simon, our VP for Operations of Hanzu Corporation." She removed her hat, brushed her hair with her fingers, then extended her hand to Han Hyun-Ki and quickly glanced at Rielle.

"I see you've brought your charming wife with you, Mr. Han; I thought you were still a bachelor." Miss Simon looked disappointed.

"Ah, no, you're mistaken. Miss Calma is my Executive Assistant, and I am still single," taking his gaze away from Rielle. Rielle felt a stab hit her palpitating heart, but she kept quiet, running in her thoughts, 'go on, Hyun, make me hate you.' After the conversations, the deals they opened, and finishing their lunch, Mr. Han and Miss Simon wanted to continue their discussion alone.

"Mr. Han is fascinating to converse with; maybe we can stay on longer to know each other better? As your business client, I suppose? Can I call you Hyun-Ki? You can call me Lianne." Asked Miss Simon.

"Sure, why not? Miss Rielle, here, my Executive Assistant can leave already" looking at Rielle with a cue of 'you can leave.

Mr. Chao Lin stood up and excused himself, and Rielle got the cue, so she walked away, leaving them together. She went in the car to wait, trying to hold her tears in agitation. Han Hyun-Ki and Miss Simon seemed to enjoy each other's company, conversing with their faces close to each other and whispering. Rielle saw all the flirting they were doing as she walked away. A little longer, to her dismay, she saw Miss Simon and Han Hyun-Ki leaving together in her car, but he remembered Rielle and Junie were waiting for him, so Han Hyun-Ki waved a hand to Junie, telling him they could go ahead and leave.

Rielle felt bad at Hyun-Ki's behavior, giving her displeasure and heartache. Thinking of his crazy attitude, she thought, 'maybe it's high time to move on.' Feeling so down, she felt like not returning to her work; she told Junie to drop her off at the nearest bus stop.

"Miss Rielle, what will I tell Mr. Han if he would look for you?" Junie anticipated his boss' anger if he couldn't find Rielle in the Office.

"No, he will not ask for me, and he'll go directly home after his private meeting with the VP," not wanting to mention the VP's name and had already predicted the meeting he would have with the woman.

Looking back at Han Hyun-Ki's 'private meeting' with Miss Simon, far from Rielle's suspicion, Han Hyun-Ki and Miss Simon continued their discussion about their business plan as a client of Kor H&H Industries, and she showed him around the company's manufacturing plant. It was already five in the afternoon when Han Hyun-Ki arrived back at the Office. While coming into his Office, he glimpsed into Rielle's Office only to find out that her desk was empty. With a dark face, he called for Alexis and asked the whereabouts of Rielle.

"We thought Miss Rielle was with you, Sir?" was Alexis' question.

"She never came back here? I dismissed her early at around 3 pm, telling Junie to go back to this Office with her; where could she be?" taking his phone from his suit's pocket, he called up on Junie. "Where is Rielle, Junie?" asked in anger.

"Sir, she asked me to drop her at a nearby bus stop, telling me you would go directly home after your private meeting with the VP, sir," Junie explained nervously.

"After what, what, Junie? Will you repeat what she said?" Hyun-Ki was already furious.

"Sir, she said----" Hyun-Ki cut him off. "Where was that bus stop you dropped her off?" he wanted to know.

"Sir, I cannot recall but----" cut him off again. "Never mind!" replied Hyun-Ki in a pissed tone.

"Hmph, 'private meeting, huh? Is that what you think of me now, Rielle?" talking to himself, Hyun-Ki started to bang his hand on his desk, creating a noise that the two secretaries began getting nervous.

Meanwhile, Rielle was in the hospital paying a visit to her friend Nancy, who had just given birth to her second child. Both women were too glad to see each other again, and Nancy was so surprised at Rielle's new look. "Why did you make a make-over of yourself? You are more beautiful than ever; it becomes you!" Rielle was so happy when she held Nancy's baby.

"You could have your children by this time, too, isn't it, Rielle? If only---" Nancy stopped, didn't want to make speculations that could hurt Rielle, and changed the subject instead.

"Are you alone in coming here? Where's Hyun-Ki? Does he know about my giving birth?" all these questions made Rielle in tears, which she held up after their lunch meeting with the VP for Operations. She tried to keep her face from Nancy, but Nancy quickly noticed.

"Are you having problems with Hyun-Ki, Rielle? Would you like me to know?" Nancy was worried about Rielle's dilemma. Nancy poked Rielle's heart's content that Rielle came free of her deep suffering; her tears turned into weeping. Nancy embraced Rielle with much sympathy, consoling her of her predicament. "Remember when we were in college, and when you needed someone to console you, wasn't I whom you call? And even if we didn't see personally, just by talking over the phone, could you feel relief after crying your heart out of your problems with Hwan?" Rielle was quiet for a while, then started to open up.

"I did not reject him, Nancy." Rielle was crying. "What do you mean 'reject,' Rielle?" Nancy wished for a clear explanation.

"Hyun asked me to marry him. It was abrupt; we were both in a funny mood when he made his short proposal. And all I said was I must first resolve my problem with Chul, and he suddenly gets mad, furious at what I said," Rielle defensively expressed herself.

"He doesn't want to talk to me anymore, and worst, he's making things hard for me in the Office as if I was just a mere employee; he treated me like a stranger when we were alone, and Hyun-Ki doesn't want me to come near him disgusted of me, as if I had a contagious disease, and Hyun-K even denied me when introduced me this afternoon during our lunch meeting with a client, and even showed outright to my face that he can easily get over me by having sweet moments with that VP woman! Imagine, Nancy, they were flirting in my face!"

Nancy could not speak; she didn't know what to say. She hugged her more, making her feel her sympathy and comfort. Nancy could feel Rielle's suffering but could not do anything more than a piece of needed advice because it might make things worse for her. She just let Rielle cry to lessen her burden. After the much-needed letting goes of crying, Rielle braced herself. She put on her makeup to patch herself so no one may suspect her having a problem.

At six pm, Wilson and Hwan Chul entered Nancy's room. The two men were surprised at the way Rielle looked. Hwan Chul found her more attractive and gorgeous, and as he gave a long stare, he realized how Rielle had developed into a more refined and determined woman. He felt regret for losing her, of having her lose him in her memory. And after having engaged in happy conversations, Hwan Chul asked Rielle for a private chat, and when Rielle agreed, he took her to the hospital's garden. Hwan Chul offered her a seat on one of the benches and was first silent, grappling for the right words to say.

Rielle, having thought of the passport, and her other vision flashes opened up.